Which place is cheaper, Mazatlan or San Jose?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between San Jose or Mazatlan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
San Jose is the capital city of Costa Rica and is likely to be your first and last stop in a visit to the country. The city is situated in the Central Valley and is surrounded by beautiful mountains and valleys, making for a beautiful flight in. The city has an elevation of 1200 meters and sits on a plateau with a beautiful backdrop of lush green forest. Half of the people in Costa Rica reside in the country's capital city. You are likely to stay only a day or two, but there are a handful of things to do and see including museums and markets. You will also find many embassies, as well as the University of Costa Rica in San Jose.
Mazatlan is located on the Pacific coast in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The city has a population of almost 500,000, making it the second largest city in the state. It is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches and resort hotels. Most people head to Mazatlan specifically for its beaches, but the city itself is somewhat large and diverse with many different cultures and ethnicities represented. Many foreigners come here not only to vacation, but also to retire. You'll meet people from all over Europe, as well as Canada and the United States.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Costa Rica, The Best Tours for Seniors to Costa Rica, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in San Jose is $90, while the average daily cost in Mazatlan is $79. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for San Jose and Mazatlan in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in San Jose or Mazatlan? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in San Jose are as follows:
Also for San Jose, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mazatlan:
Prices for flights to both Mazatlan and San Jose change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
For San Jose, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mazatlan.
For San Jose, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Here are a few actual costs in Mazatlan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Jose:
When comparing the travel costs between San Jose and Mazatlan, we can see that San Jose is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though San Jose is in Central America and Mazatlan is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Jose Expensive? and Is Mazatlan Expensive?.
Mazatlan has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of San Jose. When comparing the sizes of San Jose and Mazatlan, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Mazatlan has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Jose experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Mazatlan and San Jose during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Jose because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Mazatlan for the beaches, snorkeling, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, San Jose is around the same temperature as Mazatlan. Typically, the summer temperatures in San Jose in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Mazatlan averages at about 29°C (83°F).
In Mazatlan, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, San Jose often gets less sunshine than Mazatlan. San Jose gets 164 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mazatlan receives 216 hours of full sun.
Mazatlan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in San Jose. San Jose usually gets less rain in July than Mazatlan. San Jose gets 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 199 mm (7.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both San Jose and Mazatlan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Jose year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Mazatlan because of the shopping scene.
In October, San Jose is generally around the same temperature as Mazatlan. Daily temperatures in San Jose average around 27°C (81°F), and Mazatlan fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mazatlan this time of the year. San Jose usually receives less sunshine than Mazatlan during autumn. San Jose gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Mazatlan receives 233 hours of full sun in the autumn.
San Jose gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, San Jose usually receives more rain than Mazatlan. San Jose gets 254 mm (10 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to San Jose as well as Mazatlan. San Jose attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Mazatlan this time of year.
San Jose is a little warmer than Mazatlan in the winter. The daily temperature in San Jose averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Mazatlan fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mazatlan. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Jose this time of the year. In the winter, San Jose often gets more sunshine than Mazatlan. San Jose gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mazatlan receives 203 hours of full sun.
San Jose usually gets less rain in January than Mazatlan. San Jose gets 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 17 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Mazatlan and San Jose are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Jose throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Mazatlan for the beaches.
In the spring, San Jose is a little warmer than Mazatlan. Typically, the spring temperatures in San Jose in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Mazatlan averages at about 22°C (72°F).
It's quite sunny in Mazatlan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Jose. San Jose usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Mazatlan during spring. San Jose gets 255 hours of sunny skies, while Mazatlan receives 250 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, San Jose usually receives more rain than Mazatlan. San Jose gets 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Mazatlan receives 1 mm (0 in) of rain each month for the spring.
San Jose | Mazatlan | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) |
Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
May | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 1 mm (0 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 219 mm (8.6 in) |
Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 227 mm (8.9 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |